FOSS4G 2016

FOSS4G is the annual global event of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo). Although widely recognized as the largest technical geospatial Open Source conference we call FOSS4G an "event" because it is far more than "just" a conference. A typical FOSS4G will include regular presentations and talks, but also code sprints, birds of a feather sessions, workshops, topic talks and of course social events spanning all nine days.

The FOSS4G conference focuses on Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial. Additionally to high level technical talks four key domain topics practically connect the software with communities from neighboring domains. The key topics in 2016 are:

• Open Data
• Remote Sensing for Earth Observation
• Land information
• Disaster Management

The program gives a clear orientation which talks are more focused on the technical aspects of the Open Source geospatial software and which have a more topical approach. The theme of the conference is "building bridges". This supports the objective of bringing together attendees across domains and communities. The Open Source idea has a lot in common with the emerging trend to publish more digital assets as Open Data. At the same time the geospatial technology, the core of FOSS4G, is perfectly applicable to making all that great Open Data more accessible. The "Bonn Geo Summer" also brings together the geospatial and remote sensing worlds which have historically existed somewhat in parallel. Land Information in its broadest sense, be it cadastre, tenure and city planning, has a growing need for geospatial technology to help alleviate the pressure on urban areas and make the constant migration pressure into cities and large scale refugee events manageable. The fourth thematic focus lies on emergency management which also heavily relies on geospatial technology and increasingly also on geospatial Open Data.

FOSS4G will again be a meeting place for professionals, power users and domain newbies and as such serves as an ideal market place in the best tradition of a bazaar for service providers, developers and users of Open Source geospatial software.

And last but not least FOSS4G gives everybody the opportunity to experience the special spirit that permeates all FOSS4G events: The best opportunity to show the world how professional work and successful business can be fun and even make a better world!

In 2016 you have the chance to become an active part of all this and more in Bonn, Germany!